HC Deb 20 July 1915 vol 73 cc1431-2
(1) Loan under the Landed Property Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1847 (10 Vict., c. 32).
Name of Borrower. Amount of Loan. Amount to be written off.
£ s. a. £ s. d.
Patrick Taaffe 250 0 0 37 16 11
60 0 0 9 10 2
100 0 0 15 17 0
Leslie Wren 100 0 0 80 11 10
Daniel Dalton 200 0 0 53 4 0
(2) Loans under the Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Act, 1870 (33 and 34 Vict., c. 46).
Name of Borrower. Amount of Loan. Amount to be written off.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Michael Counihan 1,000 0 0 546 11 5
(3) Loans under the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881 (44 and 45 Vict., c. 48, s. 31).
Name of Borrower. Amount of Loan. Amount to be written off.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Patrick McGoey … 40 0 0 6 9 4
William Tollan … 500 0 0 264 1 10

Question proposed, "That this be the First Schedule to the Bill."

Mr. RAWLINSON

Can we have some reason given why these debts should be written off as bad? They seem to be a very considerable percentage in some cases.

Mr. MONTAGU

The small loans to individuals that have been written off are not written off as irrecoverable, but are transferred from the assets of the Public Works Loan Fund to the Exchequer. If ever they are recovered they will be an asset to us. Full details of them are to be found in the White Paper already circulated to the House, with the reasons therefor. It was printed on the 15th July. This is absolutely in common form.

Mr. RAWLINSON

Can the right hon. Gentleman say a word as to the corporation?

Mr. MONTAGU

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman refer to the Eyemouth Harbour trustees?

Mr. RAWLINSON

Yes.

Mr. MONTAGU

The hon. and learned Gentleman will find in Clause 4 a long preamble, which deals with surplus herring brand fees. It is simply the repayment of a loan which is dependent upon the herring brand fees, an ancient charge on the herring industry, which has fallen off considerably this year owing to the War. That is the reason for its inclusion.

Question put, and agreed to.